Gas-filled tube and circuit therefor



i 1 amma 3, 3936. L. K. sWART GAS FILLED TUBE AND CIRCUIT THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed June 1, 1935 i? alalal INVENTOR Suzuki BY ATTORNEY g3 Lg??? Mag-ch 3, 1936. L. K. SWART 9 9 GAS FILLED TUBE AND CIRCUIT THEREFOR Filed June 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 37 Z Input 4- Circuit 1M 4 F E36 LQZ 55 L INVENTOR Z ZZ$wa7 ff/l fi i ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES GAS-FILLED TUBE AND CIRCUIT THEREFOR Leland Kasson Swart, Mountain Lakes, N. J., as-

signor to American Telephone and Telegraph Company, a corporation of New York Application June 1, 1935, Serial No. 24,550

6 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical translating devices and circuits. This invention also relates to gas-filled tubes of the hot cathode type and of the cold cathode type and to circuits therefor. This invention further relates to such circuits as may employ a common source of potential, for example, for biasing any or all of the various tubes and a common source of potential, for example, in its work circuit for the purpose of operating any or all of the translating devices associated with the gas-filled tubes. This invention further relates to circuits which employ a single source of potential which may be employed both for biasing the gas-filled tubes and for providing the potential in its work circuit required to actuate the translating device or devices associated with the various gas-filled tubes.

In gas-filled tubes of the hot cathode type, the biasing potential associated with each tube generally is poled so as to be positive with respect to the cathode and negative with respect to the auxiliary electrode. In accordance with this invention, this formal arrangement will be modified so that the applied potential may always be positive with respect to the anode and negative with respect to the cathode in the work circuit and a single source of potential will be provided which will produce the biasing means, i. e. for biasing the auxiliary electrode with respect to the cathode and for producing the current required to operate the work circuit which at the same time will maintain the anode positive with respect to the cathode. The biasing potential for such an arrangement may, for example, be poled so as to be negative with respect to the cathode and positive with respect to the auxiliary electrode, contrary to the general and usual practice.

By biasing a tube as just outlined, the bulk of the current may be made to pass from the anode to the cathode and little, if any, current will pass from the anode to the auxiliary electrode. In many systems involving high impedance input circuits, where a plurality of auxiliary electrodes are connected to the same input circuit, it becomes desirable that virtually all of the current be confined to the circuit extending between the anode and the cathode and that little, if any, pass from the anode to the auxiliary electrode or electrodes.

In accordance with this invention, a plurality of gas-filled tubes are employed, all of which use the same biasing potential and a common potential in their work circuit. And furthermore, means are provided for resetting a plurality of translating devices such as relays connected to the various gas tubes but in certain arrangements of this invention a common source of potential is employed both for the work circuit and for the biasing means of the input circuit. And still furthermore, a single translating device may be used and it may be coupled to a single resetting circuit arranged with respect to a plurality of gas-filled tubes operated from a plurality of input circuits or sources of energy and employing but a single source of potential both for biasing purposes and for the Work circuit.

This invention will be better understood from the detailed description hereinafter following when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents one embodiment of the invention in which three input circuits are coupled to a corresponding number of translating devices through various gasfilled tubes; Figure 2 shows a modification of this arrangement in which each gas tube is provided with an individualv resetting circuit; Figure 3 shows another modification in which a single automatic resetting circuit is provided in connection with a plurality of tubes and Figures 4. 5 and 6 represent still further embodiments of the invention.

Referring to Figure l, the transformers T1, T2 and T3 are associated with individual input circuits or sources of energy and the secondaries of these transformers are each connected with two or" the electrodes M and K of the corresponding gas-filled tubes N31, N32 and N33, the upper terminals of these windings being connected to the corresponding electrodes M through individual resistors R1, R2 and R3, the lower terminals of these secondaries extending to the cathodes K through individual adjustable taps of a local source of potential such as the battery B, as shown. The negative terminal of the battery B is connected to the cathodes K of all of the tubes N31, N32 and N33 and the various taps are used to apply any desired positive potential to the auxiliary electrodes M.

The positive terminal of the battery B is connected through an interruptor or switch S to the lower terminals of a plurality of translating devices which are shown in the form of relays designated D1, D2 and D3, the upper terminal of the windings of these relays being connected to the corresponding anodes A of the tubes N31, N32 and N33. Although the translating devices are shown in the form of relays, it will be readily understood that these devices may take any other desirable form. Itwill be further understood that the armature and contact of each of the devices D1, D2 and D3 control individual output circuits.

It will be noted that the potential applied by the battery B to the various auxiliary electrodes M of the tubes N31, N33 and N33 is adjustable but this applied potential is so poled as always to be positive with respect to the corresponding cathodes. Voltages obtained from the various input circuits or sources of energy and transmitted through the transformers T1, T2 and T3, if of proper polarity, boost the potential derived from the tap of the battery B to such a value as to cause ionization of the gas between the auxiliary electrode M and the cathode K of any one or all of these tubes. When ionization of the gas is thus produced, it will permit current to pass from the battery B through the circuit or circuits which include the windings of the various relays D1, D2 and D3 and the corresponding anodes A of the various tubes. Thus, those relays operate which are connected to tubes in which ionization has taken place and the corresponding output circuits of such devices also become operated.

In order to deionize the gas between electrodes A and K within any or all of the tubes 'so previously ionized, it is merely necessary to open the circuit at the switch S. To deionize the gas between electrodes M and K within any or all of the tubes so previously ionized, the potential impressed between these electrodes M and K must fall to a value below the sustaining value of glow between said electrodes. Subsequent closure of the switch S will bring about operation of only such of the translating devices D1, D2 and D3 as are connected to input circuits or sources of energy which continue to provide sufiiciently high and properly poled potential to the electrodes M and K.

In Fig. 2, three input circuits are connected through the transformers T1, T2 and T3 :and through resistors R1, R2 and R3, respectively, to the electrodes M and K of the tubes N31, N32 and N33 as in Fig. 1 and=-here,1also, the source of potential or battery B may be tapped as desired to bias the various auxiliary electrodes to suitable positive potentials with respect to the corresponding cathodes K. The positive terminal of the battery B is connected to :one terminal of each of the windings of the translating devices or relays D1, D2 and D3 and the other terminals of these devices are connected through the windings of vibrating relays V1, V2 and V3, respectively, to the anodes -A *of the corresponding tubes N31, N32 and N33. The armature and contact of each vibrating relay are connected, respectively, to the cathode K of the corresponding tube and to the contact common to the wind- 'ings of the associated translating device and vibrating relay, as shown. Moreover, acondenser and resistor are bridged across the armature and contact of each vibrating relay. Thus, the condenser C1, C2 and C3 and the'resistors R11, R12 and R13 are connected, respectively, in series with each other between the armature and contact of the associated vibrating relay.

The common source of potential B supplies the "energy required 'to-ope'rate all of the translating devices 'or relays D1, D2 and D3 as well as all of the vibrating relays V1, V2 and V3. This same source of potential also serves as a biasing means for the auxiliary electrodes M of all of the tubes N31, N32 and. N33 and at the same time it aids in producing gaseous ionization in any one or all of these tubes.

The potential applied to the primary iwindings of any one or all of the various transformers T1, T2 and T3, if of sufficien't amplitude and 'of proper polarity, will produce ionization of the gas within the associated tube or tubes N31, N32 and N33. Ionization of the gas within any one or several of the tubes will cause current to how through the translating devices or relays D1, D2 and D3 and the vibrating relays V1, V2 and V3 associated with the tubes so ionized and this current will pass between the electrodes A and K of such tubes. The devices D1, D2 and D3 will then be operated as long as the associated tubes remain ionized and the corresponding vibrating relays will be intermittently operated, as will be now described.

When a particular vibrating relay such as V1 operates, it will cause the corresponding condenser C1 to discharge through the circuit which includes the resistor R11 and the armature and contact of the vibrating relay. At the same time, the closure of the contact of the vibrating relay by its armature will provide a circuit between the electrodes A and K of the tube N31 and this circuit will include the winding of the vibrating relay itself. This circuit, in effect, removes all potential from the anodeA of the tube N31 and when this occurs the vibrating relay V1 will release. As soon as the armature of this relay leaves its contact, the corresponding condenser C, will again become charged, charging current being provided by battery E1, the charging circuit including the winding of the relay D1. This charging current will tend to hold the relay D1 operated for a period in excess of the vibrating and the battery B. Thus the relay D1 will "be maintained operated while the vibrating relay continues to make and break its contact at regular intervals thereafter, or as long as sufficient potential of the proper polarity persistsat the input circuit of the transformer T1.

It will be observed that as long as a sufiicient and properly poled potential becomes applied through any one of the transformers as, for example, T1, the relay D1 will be continuously operated during this interval while the vibrating relay will be intermittently operated. Both relays will be returned to their unoperated conditions and will remain unoperated if the amplitude of the applied potential becomes sufiiciently reduced. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, no manual device is employed for producing deionization within any one of the various tubes, that is, for resetting the circuits of any one of the tubes, since this function is performed automatically by the operation of the various vibrating relays and their associated circuits.

:In Fig. 3, the circuits connected to the auxiliary electrodes M and the cathodes K of the various tubes N31, N32 and N33 are the same as those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. But the positive terminal of the battery B is connected to the anodes of all of the tubes through a circuit which includes a single translating device or relay D and a single vibrating relay designated V, as shown. The armature and contact of the vibrating relay V are connected, respectively, to the cathodes K of all of the tubes and to the terminal common to the windings of the relays V and D. The armature and contact of "the vibrating relay V are also shunted by a condenser C and a resistor R arranged in series relationship.

The operation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as that described in connection with Fig. 2, except that the single translating device D becomes "operated and rev of these tubes.

mains operated as long as gaseous ionization takes place within any one of the various tubes. At the same time, the vibrating relay V vibrates its armature against its contact as long as the gas within any one of the various tubes remains ionized. The translating device D can become released only when there is an absence of sufiicient potential in all of the circuits connected to the primary windings of the transformers T1, T2 and T3; The vibrating relay V will cease its vibration only when the relay D has released.

In Fig. 4, the resistor R21 is connected in series with a large resistor R22, the series circuit shunting the input circuit. The lower terminal of the resistor R22 is connected to the variable tap of the battery B. A plurality of resistors R31R2s are connected between selected points along the resistor R22 and the auxiliary electrodes M of the corresponding tubes N31N2s as shown. The negative terminal of the battery B is connected to the cathodes K of all of the various tubes while the positive terminal of this battery is connected to the anodes A of all of the tubes through a circuit which includes the common switch S and the windings of all of the relays D1-Ds which are connected in parallel with respect to the battery B, each relay, of course, controlling an individual output circuit. It will be clear also that the various taps along resistors R21 and R22 may be adjustable, if so desired.

It will be observed that the auxiliary electrodes M of the various tubes, by virtue of their connection to different points along the resistor R22, derive diiierent potentials from any voltage applied to the resistor R22 by the input circuit. Assuming that a voltage of proper polarity is applied across the resistor R22, then this entire voltage, as well as that produced between the tapped contact and the negative terminal of the battery B, will be applied through the resistor R21 to the electrodes M and K of the tube N31. A smaller portion of the voltage applied across the resistor R22 will be supplied, along with that produced between the tap connection of battery B and its negative terminal, through the resistor R22 and this composite voltage will be applied between the electrodes M and K of the tube N32. It will be clear also that still smaller voltages are in turn applied between the electrodes M and K of the tubes N23, N34, N35 and N36, the smallest voltage being applied to the electrodes M and K of the last mentioned tube. It will be understood that the resistors R31R36 are employed primarily as ballasting resistors and that they tend to reduce the flow of current between the electrodes M and K of the corresponding gas filled tubes to very low values in order not to disturb appreciably the impedance at the input, namely, resistance R22.

The relays D1 to D6 will all be operated if gaseous ionization is produced within all of the tubes. If only some of the tubes, however, become subjected to gaseous ionization, then the relays corresponding to those tubes alone will become operated. In order to simultaneously deionize the gas within all of the tubes, it is necessary only to open the switch S which will remove the potential of the battery B from the anodes A of all Upon the subsequent closure of this switch, however, these relays will again be in condition to become operated.

It should be furthermore understood that the tubes may be restored to their deionized state by other means than by opening of the switch S; such means may be the employment of deionizing arrangements shown, for example, in Figs. 2

and 3 of this application and in my United States Letters Patent No. 1,977,256.

Fig. 5 shows still another arrangement embodying the principles of this invention. Here the resistors R40, R41, R42, R43 and R44 are connected in series with each other across the input circuit. The resistor R41 is tapped at three points and these taps are connected to the auxiliary electrodes M f the tubes N'41, N"41 and N"'41 through corresponding resistors R41, R"41 and R41. The resistor 42 is similarly tapped at three points which are connected to the auxiliary electrodes M of the tubes N'42, N"42 and N"42 through corresponding resistors R42, R42 and R'42. Similarly, the three taps of the resistors R42 are connected to the auxiliary electrodes M of the tubes N43, N4a and N"4z through corresponding resistors R'43, R43 and R"43. Also the three taps of the resistor R44 are connected through resistors R'44, R"44 and R"'44 to the auxiliary electrodes M of the corresponding tubes N '44, N"44 and N44. It will be understood, of course, that the resistors R41 and R42 may in reality be but one resistor and moreover, that resistors R42 and R44 may also be but one resistor.

The cathodes K of all of the tubes are connected to each other and the common terminal is connected to the negative terminal of battery C. The positive terminal of battery C is connected to the junction of resistors R42 and R43. The battery C is therefore employed for the purpose of biasing all the auxiliary electrodes M to a suitable positive potential with respect to the corresponding cathodes K of the various tubes.

The battery B is so arranged that its negative terminals is connected to the terminal common to the cathodes K of all of the tubes and its positive terminal is connected through the reset key or switch S to the anodes A of all of the tubes through corresponding resistors which are designated R'51Rs1, R52R52, R'53 "'53 and R54-R"'54, as shown. The latter resistors may, of course, be replaced by any forms of relays or translating devices and these resistors or the corresponding devices which are substituted therefor may have the same or diiierent magnitudes of resistance.

It will be clear also that the reset key S may be opened whenever desired for the purpose of simultaneously producing deionization oi the gas within the various tubes and at the same time for preventing the flow of current through all of the resistors R'51R"51, R'52R"52, R53 "'53 and R54 "'54. It will be clear also that the taps on the various resistors R41, R42, R43 and R44 are adjustable for the purpose of providing any desired potentials for application to the corresponding auxiliary electrodes M of the associated tubes.

The arrangement shown in Fig. is one which is capable of causing the operation of the system upon both halves of each applied alternating current cycle. During the positive half of any one cycle, the gas within the tubes of the upper half of the diagram will become ionized and during the other half cycle ionization will take place within the tubes of the lower half of the diagram.

In Fig. 6, the transformers T1, T2 and T2 connect the input circuits to the electrodes K and K" of the tubes N31, N32 and N33, respectively. The battery B is connected between the midpoints of the secondary windings of these transformers and the anodes of the various tubes, each anode A being connected to the positive terminal of the battery B through an individual lit) relay winding such as D1, D2 and D3 anda common switch S, as shown. The relay D will operate only in response to the ionization of .the gas within the tube N31. Similarly, tubes N32 and N33 will individually control the operation of the relays D2 and D3. But the current to operate all of these relays is derived from the common battery B.

It will again be understood that the swi h S may be employed for the purpose of sim taneously causing the release of all of the relays D1, D2 and D3 so as to allow the gas within all of the tubes to become deionized. It will be understood, however, that this switch S may be replaced by any of the resetting devices shown in the form of vibrating relays having individual armatures and contacts which are shunted by a series condenser and resistor, as shown in Fig. 2, if so desired. It will be further understood that this switch S may be eliminated if the battery is replaced by a source of alternating current of some predetermined frequency or by a source of direct current which is interrupted at some selected frequency.

In this arrangement, potential of either'polarity,if of sufiicient magnitude, will cause ionization to take place within any one of the tubes to which the applied potential is impressed through the corresponding transformer. Just as soon as ionizationis started within any particular tube such as N31, current will continuously flow from the battery B through the winding of the relay D1 and this current will continue until the switch is opened. Upon the opening of the switch S, the associated relay D1 will be released and the gas within the tube N31 may become deionized if a suficient potential no longer is applied through the transformer T1. This same eiiect will be observed in the circuits associated with-the tubes N32 and N33. It will be understood that the battery B will produce a voltage which will aid ionization to take place between the electrodes K and K" of all-of the tubes N31, N32 and N33. Thus, the battery B not only acts as a biasing means but also provides the energy to operate all of the relays D1, D2 and D3.

t will be further understood that the arrangement of Fig. 6 willmot only be adjusted so that it may respond to voltages of a particular polarity but it may be so adjusted also that it will 7 become operated in response to voltages of both polarities. In other words, this arrangement maybe made to be responsive to both cycles of an applied alternating voltage.

While this invention has been shown and described in certain particular arrangements merely for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that the general principles of this invention may be applied to other and widely varied organizations without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a plurality of three electrode gas-filled tubes, a plurality of translating devices, a source of potential for continuouslybiasing one or the electrodes of each tube with respect to a second electrode of each tube and for supplying current for operating each of said translating devices in a circuit which includes the third electrode and the second electrode, and a plurality of sources for applying individual potentials between the -first two electrodes 11f each tube for separately ionizing the gas within said tubes.

The combination of a plurality of gas-filled tubes each having an :anode, a cathode and an auxiliary electrode, .a common source of direct potential .for :rendering the auxiliary electrode of each tube positive with respect to the corresponding cathode, .a plurality of translating devices each connected between :the anode and cathode of each hi the tubes through the source of :direct potential, and means for individually applyi'mg :additional potential between the :auxiliaryelectro'de and cathode of each tube for ionizing the gas within said tube and for operating the translating deviceassociatedtherewith.

3. The combination iof a plurality 10f gas-filled tubes each having three electrodes, a translating deviceconnected in common with twoof the electrodes .of :eachn'f the itubesfia source of direct potential .for rendering the third electrode of each of the tubes positive with respect to one of its other electrodes and for supplying the cur-rent required to :operate the translating device, and means for individually applying additional potential between the electrodes of each of the tubes to "which the .bias is applied for ionizing the gas within the tube and for operating the translating device.

4. The combination 'of :a plurality of gas-filled tubes each having an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, a translating device connected in common with the anode and cathode of each of the tubes, a source .of potential for biasing the control electrodes of all-of the tubes to a positive potential with respect to their corresponding cathodes, means for applying additional potential between the auxiliary electrode and cathode of any one of the various tubes for ionizing the gas therein and for operating the translating device, and means for simultaneously interrupting the how of current between the anodes and cathodes of all of the tubes.

5. The combination of a'plurality of gas-filled tubeseach having :two control electrodes and an anode, a plurality of translating devices each associated with the :anode 0f one of said tubes, a source of potential for biasing each control electrode'with respect to "the anode and for supplying current for operating each translating device, means for individually applying potentials between the control electrodes of all of the tubes for ionizing the gas therein and for simultaneously operating the associated translating devices, and means for periodically removing the potential .of the source from all of the translating devices.

6. The combination of a plurality of gas-filled tubes each having an anode, a cathode and an auxiliaryele'ctrode, asource of potential for positively 'biasingall of the auxiliary electrodes with respect to their cathodes, a plurality of translat-.

ing devices each associated with one of the tubes, all of the translatingdevices being connected between the anode of the corresponding tube and its cathode through'the common source of bias' 

